Hurricane Katrina Mayor Jailed For 10 Years

Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin, who was the exasperated face of the deluged city during Hurricane Katrina, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for corruption.

Prosecutors had sought a stiffer penalty for Nagin, who was found guilty in February of 20 counts of bribery, money laundering and other crimes.

But US District Judge Helen Ginger Berrigan said a shorter prison term was warranted, given what she described as Nagin's devotion to his family and to New Orleans.

Katrina flooded more than three-fourths of low-lying New Orleans

The 58-year-old Democrat was convicted of helping contractors secure millions of dollars of work in exchange for bribes, free holidays and other gifts.

As part of the kickback scheme, Nagin and his family received a trip to Hawaii, first-class airfare to Jamaica, private jet travel and a limousine for New York City.

Nagin, who has remained free on bail since his conviction, also accepted free granite for the stone company he and his sons owned.

The former cable TV executive had denounced New Orleans' culture of corruption when he ran for mayor in 2002.

Nagin, who led the city until 2010, has maintained his innocence. 

The trial in New Orleans heard that he began accepting bribes before Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 and continued to do so during its recovery.

The hurricane flooded more than three-fourths of low-lying New Orleans and left more than 1,800 dead across the region.

Nagin was criticised for his handling of the reponse to Katrina

Nagin's angry demands for emergency aid from Washington embarrassed the George W Bush administration, which subsequently steered billions of federal dollars to Gulf Coast reconstruction.

But Nagin himself was also criticised at the time for failing to implement his evacuation plan when Katrina struck.

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George Clooney Slams 'Criminal' Wedding Story

George Clooney has taken the unusual step of responding to an article written about him.

The story, published on MailOnline and now taken down, suggested the Hollywood star's future mother-in-law was unhappy with her daughter's choice of man.

In its article, the website quoted unnamed sources as saying Lebanese-born journalist and broadcaster Baria Alamuddin, the mother of Clooney's lawyer fiancee Amal, was annoyed because her daughter was not marrying into what it said was the family's Druze religion.

Clooney usually resists reacting to stories about him

It quoted Ms Alamuddin as saying her daughter could "do better" and that she risked "being cast out of the community".

That, the actor says, is simply not the case.

In an exclusive statement to USA Today, Clooney, 53, said the story was "not true".

"Amal's mother is not Druze," he said. "She has not been to Beirut since Amal and I have been dating, and she is in no way against the marriage, but none of that is the issue.

"If they fabricate stories of Amal being pregnant, or the marriage is on the set of Downton Abbey, or that I'm running for office, or any number of idiotic stories that they sit at their computers and invent, I don't care," he said.

What he cared about, he said, was that religion was being brought into the mix.

"The irresponsibility, in this day and age, to exploit religious differences where none exist, is at the very least negligent and more appropriately dangerous," the actor added.

"We have family members all over the world, and the idea that someone would inflame any part of that world for the sole reason of selling papers should be criminal."

MailOnline responded by saying its story was "not a fabrication" and had been supplied in good faith by a trusted freelance journalist.

Baria Alamuddin speaking at a seminar on international law in Bahrain

It said: "We only became aware of Mr Clooney's concerns this morning and have launched a full investigation.

"However, we accept Mr Clooney's assurance that the story is inaccurate and we apologise to him, Miss Amal Alamuddin and her mother, Baria, for any distress caused.

"We have removed the article from our website and will be contacting Mr Clooney's representatives to discuss giving him the opportunity to set the record straight."

The couple have not revealed details of their wedding plans, although rumours say they will be married in Italy, where Clooney has a house and spends much of his time.

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World Cup: Brazil Defeat Sparked Unrest Fears

Brazil Coach: 'The Worst Day Of My Life'

Updated: 7:18am UK, Wednesday 09 July 2014

Luiz Felipe Scolari has said watching his side being crushed 7-1 by Germany was the worst day of his life.

And Brazil president Dilma Rousseff said she was sad and sorry.

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, whose side play the Netherlands in the other semi-final on Wednesday, said the result was "not normal" but showed "why (football) is beautiful".

Here is more of what they and others had to say about the "extraordinary" and "bewildering" game in Belo Horizonte:

BRAZIL COACH LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI

"If I were to think of my life as a footballer, as a coach, as a physical education teacher, I think it was the worst day of my life.

"I'm going to be remembered probably because I lost 7-1, the worst defeat in Brazil's history, but that was a risk I knew I was running when I walked into this position.

"My message for the Brazilian people and fans is that we tried to do what we could, we lost to a great team who had the skill to end the game in just six or seven minutes with four goals."

BRAZIL STAND-IN CAPTAIN DAVID LUIZ

"I just wanted to make my people happy. Unfortunately, we couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry to all Brazilians, I just wanted to see them smile, everyone knows how important it was."

BRAZIL GOALKEEPER JULIO CESAR

"It's very hard to explain the unexplainable."

BRAZIL PRESIDENT DILMA ROUSSEFF

"Like every Brazilian, I am very, very sad about this defeat. I am immensely sorry for all of us. But we won't let ourselves stay down. Brazil, get up, dust yourself off and move forward."

BRAZIL FAN RIBEIRO FRANCA AFTER GERMANY'S FIFTH GOAL

"Five-nil is so embarassing, we're not going to stay any longer. One-nil is fine, one-one, two-one, two-two, but five-nil is shameful for a country that has a tradition of football. Bye. Bye."

GERMAN COACH JOACHIM LOEW

"They were shocked and didn't expect to fall behind. And after that it was an easy match for us. I feel sorry for him (Scolari). I think I know how he feels."

ARGENTINA COACH ALEJANDRO SABELLA

"Seven-one is not a normal result between two world footballing powers. (But) football can be like that. Sometimes things happen that you don't expect, and that is why it is beautiful."

FORMER BRAZIL MIDFIELDER JUNINHO PAULISTA

"It will be difficult to recover. Some players I don't think will be back to wear the Brazilian shirt. It is wrong now to criticise the players. On the field, Germany taught us how to play football."

FORMER ENGLAND STRIKER GARY LINEKER

"In nigh on half a century of watching football, that's the most extraordinary, staggering, bewildering game I've ever witnessed."

FORMER GERMANY MIDFIELDER DIETMAR HAMANN

"Master class from Germany. Clinical, organised, hard-working, unselfish and humble. Very proud of the team. One to go."

FORMER ENGLAND DEFENDER RIO FERDINAND                           

"I would worry that the Brazilian players might never recover from this. Some might not be able to come back."

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Israel Pounds Gaza As Hamas Fires Across Border

The Israeli military has said it has shot down more rockets fired by Palestinian militants as Israel's major air offensive over the Gaza Strip enters its second day.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said at least eight rockets sent from Gaza were intercepted over Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Ashkelon on Wednesday.

Israel said a rocket hit the city of Zichron Yaakov on Wednesday afternoon, which is some 75 miles from Gaza, representing the longest-range rocket strike by Hamas on the state to date.

The IDF claims at least 48 missiles, sent by the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, have "struck Israel" since midnight.

A wounded Palestinian is stretchered into hospital

Other locations targeted included Beersheva and Sderot in the south, Rishon Lezion, and Hadera in the north - 60 miles from Gaza.

In total, more than 300 rockets have been fired at Israel since the military launched Operation Protective Edge began on Monday night.

To date no fatalities have been reported in Israel.

The fatalities come after at least 49 people, including children, have been killed in the biggest Israeli assault on Gaza in nearly two years.

Officials in Gaza say that more than 300 people have also been injured since Monday, but that number is likely to climb as Israel attempts to "dismantles" Hamas.

The Israeli military said a total of 550 Hamas targets have been hit since the operation began, with 130 targets hit on Wednesday.

They included 60 suspected  rocket launch sites on the Gaza Strip from Beit Hanoun in the north, to Rafah near the Egyptian boarder.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has quoted him as saying he plans to "intensify the attacks on Hamas and the terrorist organisations in Gaza" even further.

A house in Gaza destroyed by an Israeli attack

At a crisis meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of committing atrocities in Gaza.

Mr Abbas said: "It's genocide - the killing of entire families is genocide by Israel against our Palestinian people."

The exchange of fire marks the heaviest fighting between Israel and Hamas since an eight-day battle in November 2012.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told Sky News Israel's actions are "defensive" and designed to eliminate rocket fire.

The IDF says Hamas is firing from civilian areas. Pic: IDF/Twitter

The Israeli cabinet has warned it may also send in ground troops and has authorised the call-up of as many as 40,000 reservists.

On Tuesday, wedding guests in Holon, central Israel, were forced to run for shelter after sirens alerted them to incoming missiles.

Video footage shows Israel's 'Iron Dome' defence system intercept an incoming rocket.

The IDF said 80 rockets have been intercepted and neutralised by the defensive system.

Israeli tanks at the southern border with the Gaza Strip

It also posted an image on Twitter which it said shows rockets being sent from civilian areas in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas had, until recently, been observing a truce that ended the 2012 hostilities.

Tensions increased last month after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and killed in the West Bank.

Israel blamed Hamas and launched a crackdown on the group's members and arrested hundreds of people.

Israel has also prepared for a ground invasion of Gaza

The situation deteriorated further last week when a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem was abducted and burned to death in what was viewed as a revenge attack.

According to news agency Reuters, a US official involved in the investigation into the deaths of the three Israeli youths has revealed they were shot at least 10 times with a silenced gun, indicating premeditated murder.

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Missing Teen Left Chilling Notes In Journal

A missing teenager left a note shortly before her disappearance saying: "I've gotten into something I can't get out of," her mother has said.

Angelic "Anji" Dean, 17, disappeared from her family's home in Camas, Washington - just outside Portland, Oregon - on June 23.

The girl's diary was found under her bed

"She writes that letter and a week later she's gone," said her mother Lynda Jorgensen.

Lynda Jorgensen fears her daughter has become a sex trafficking victim

"So we don't know who she's involved with, but she was scared."

Ms Jorgensen fears her daughter might have been involved in a sex trafficking ring.

According to a local newspaper, the Camas-Washougal Post-Record, Anji also wrote in the diary: "If you're reading this, I am either missing or dead."

The diary was found under Anji's bed, according to the report.

"It's really, really hard because we don't know where she's at or who she's with - and we know she's not safe because she's not here," said the girl's mother.

Ms Jorgensen said that when she went to Anji's room to say goodnight, she was not there.

She believes her daughter left suddenly as she left behind her glasses, credit card and other personal belongings.

A Facebook page has been set up to find information about the girl, and a "vigil of hope" is planned this weekend in Vancouver, Washington.

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BlackBerry Unveils Bizarre Square Smartphone

Muscled out of the smartphone market by iPhone, Android and Samsung, BlackBerry has rolled the dice on its latest product and come up with a square phone.

The Canadian firm has unveiled more details about the unusual device called the Passport, which it first previewed in June, including a 4.5-inch square HD screen.

A post on the official BlackBerry blog said: "Many have thought that creativity around the design of smartphones was dead.

"Device companies have been emulating the same, entertainment-driven look for so long that there's been a homogenisation of the visual cues in smartphone design."

BlackBerry was once the phone model of choice for businesspeople

The screen width fits 60 characters rather than the 40 seen on a rectangular five-inch device.

Under the heading "it's hip to be square", the post said the width is ideal for reading ebooks, viewing documents and browsing the web.

Comparing it to a giant cinema screen, the post added: "The Passport is like the IMAX of productivity and you don't have to sacrifice screen real estate, vertically or horizontally."

The post said the device was aimed at professionals such as architects, writers and medical staff.

The BlackBerry Passport fits more characters across the screen

Earlier this year, BlackBerry announced a quarterly loss of $423m (£254m) after suffering a revenue drop of more than 60%.

The company said its revenue for the last quarter of 2013 was $976m (£587m), down from $2.7bn (£1.6bn) in the previous year.

It was the first time the Canadian company had reported quarterly revenue of below $1bn (£600m).

The figure was more than a tenth lower than what analysts had forecast.

Early last year, the company released BlackBerry 10, which failed to spark a turnaround in its fortunes.

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Reigning Champ Froome Out Of Tour De France

English Leg Of Tour De France Ends At Palace

Updated: 9:10pm UK, Monday 07 July 2014

The Tour de France bid a dramatic au revoir to the UK as one million people turned out to watch the race from Cambridge to Buckingham Palace.

Tens of thousands of spectators watched a high-speed crash in wet conditions outside Big Ben, while a spectator was hit by a rider outside the Olympic Park.  

The last of the three English stages ended with the same winner as Saturday's opener in Yorkshire - Giant-Shimano's German sprinter Marcel Kittel was first to the line on the Mall.

After the race, the riders headed to France on four chartered planes from London City Airport. 

After glorious weather in Yorkshire, the first rainfall of the race arrived after the riders passed the Olympic Park in East London.

And the rain made the final approach slippery and dangerous, with the high-speed crash happening on a right-hand bend by Big Ben.

In another accident, a spectator was hit by a rider as the fan attempted to take a picture near east London's Olympic Park.

The fan was clipped by Team Sky's Diego Lopez Garcia, knocking him to the ground, along with Garcia and fellow riders Andy Schleck, Simon Gerrans and two others.

The extent of the fan's injuries are unknown.

The accident came after some riders criticised British fans for stepping into the road and taking "selfies".

American rider Tejay van Garderen, of BMC Racing, said on Twitter: "A dangerous mix of vanity and stupidity. Standing [in] the middle of the road with you[r] back turned while 200 cyclists come at you, just to take a selfie. #think #TDF2014."

He added: "That being said, I love the crowds and thank you for your support. But please give us room."

Meanwhile, Kittel compared winning in London to triumphing on the Champs- Elysees in Paris last year.

"Winning on The Mall, that's what I dreamed of but, even though I had a good chance to make it come true, it's not something I could take for granted," he said.

"It's really fantastic to win here. On the finishing line, the crowd was fantastic. I love the atmosphere."

Slovak Peter Sagan was second, with Australian Mark Renshaw in third. Italian Vincenzo Nibali kept the race leader's yellow jersey.

Defending champion Chris Froome, of Team Sky, negotiated a tricky opening in fifth place after finishing 28th in London.

But fellow British rider Mark Cavendish will undergo shoulder surgery on Wednesday and will be out for around for six weeks after a crash on Saturday.

Earlier on Monday, crowds lined the streets of Cambridge to watch the start of the third stage. Riders passed King's College before the race began in nearby Trumpington.

The 197 riders then passed through picturesque villages in Essex shortly after 1pm before heading into the capital.

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Two Killed By Freight Train At Level Crossing

Two people have been killed after being hit by a freight train at a level crossing near Lincoln.

Emergency services were called to the accident at Croft Lane, Cherry Willingham, just before noon.

Both people were declared dead at the scene and police are currently not treating the incident as suspicious.

The train involved was heading for Immingham Docks in Humberside.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: "Our officers are continuing to investigate after two people were struck by a train at a level crossing in Croft Lane, Cherry Willingham.

"The incident was reported to BTP at 11.57am on Wednesday, July 9 and was also attended by Lincolnshire Police.

"Paramedics from the East Midlands Ambulance Service attended, and a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, both from Cherry Willingham, were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the incident, which is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

"Family of the deceased have been informed.

"The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has been informed."

Recent official safety figures revealed the number of deaths from trespass and suicide on the railways rose from 278 to 300 in 2013/14 - the highest annual figure on record.

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Polar Bear Attack: I Heard Growls And Screams

A teenager has told of the moment she heard a fellow student being fatally attacked by a polar bear during an adventure holiday.

Lauren Beech, from Ilford in Essex, has been telling the inquest into the death of Horatio Chapple, 17, that she saw the white fur of the bear from her tent.

"I heard growls of the bear along with other shouts and screams," she said at the inquest in Salisbury. "I was very distressed and I do not think I had any idea of the timescale."

Scott Bennell-Smith, from St Mellion in Cornwall, was lying asleep in the same tent as Horatio when it started shaking.

He said: "The material of the tent roof collapsed over all three of us and I could feel the presence of the bear over all of us. I could feel the size of it and see its paws.

The bear was shot after attacking several people

"When the material collapsed over me I couldn't see what was happening.

"From what I remember I think we were all shouting the same thing ... shouting for help."

Mr Bennell-Smith, 20, who was 16 at the time, added: "The material had all ripped, it had fallen about either side of us. I saw the bear attacking someone.

"I think it was right in the centre of the camp, biting (him) in the head.

"I just put my head down again and tried to stay still basically then I could just hear the bear moving around the camp, just heard commotion."

The expedition was to the Arctic wilderness of the Svalbard islands

He was then attacked and injured by the bear, before it was shot.

Horatio was on the adventure holiday to the remote Svalbard islands in August 2011 with the British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) when he died.

The Eton pupil from Salisbury, Wiltshire, suffered fatal injuries to his head and upper body.

Four others were hurt before the bear was shot dead at the camp site, where the group, known as Chanzin Fire, had been staying.

Also injured during the incident were trip leader Michael "Spike" Reid, from Plymouth, Devon, Andrew Ruck, from Brighton, and Patrick Flinders, from Jersey.

Horatio, from Wiltshire, was a pupil at Eton

Ms Beech told the inquest that Horatio had found a bear print in the ground just two days before the attack.

She also said she found out after the incident that the local authorities had issued a warning about increased polar bear activities in recent months before the attack.

Mr Flinders, who was in the tent with Horatio, said: "Once the tent collapsed I got into a little ball and I moved myself over to Scott and I am not sure if Horatio got himself out of the tent or not.

"I thought I would peek out to see what was happening, I could see the bear with who I thought was one of the leaders, Spike, by the head. It was coming away from one of their tents."

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UK Twin Sisters On Run To Syria 'Pose Threat'

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England Correspondent

Twin sisters who are believed to have fled from the UK to Syria pose "a threat to themselves" and potentially their community, according to counter terrorism officers.

Salma and Zahra Halane, both 16, are thought to have left their homes in Chorlton in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago.

Their parents are said to have reported the girls missing after finding their bedrooms empty the following morning.

The teenagers flew from Manchester airport to Turkey on June 26 before crossing the border into Syria.

It is thought they may have joined their brother, who is believed to be fighting with the extremist militant group ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant).

The family home in Chorlton

The head of North West England's Counter Terrorism Unit, Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, said: "They are clearly posing a threat to themselves and potentially the community, and their family and friends are concerned for their well-being."

Mr Mole said the "developing" investigation into the girls' disappearance had two main strands - to safeguard them "wherever possible" and to assess any further lines of enquiry. 

He said the counter terrorism unit did not know for sure why the girls were in Syria, nor exactly who they were with.

It comes as a jihadi fighter in Syria told Sky News he has been training British teenagers as young as 16 to fight in the war.

The girls are students at the Connell Sixth Form College in east Manchester.

They have been described as star pupils, achieving 28 GCSEs between them.

Neighbours told Sky News of their shock at news of their fleeing.

One, Jason Rock, said: "It is very, very surprising - shocking. It is shocking because they just seemed like a quiet family, a big family."

Another neighbour, Joyce Blackledge, added: "I didn't see very much of them. They were just quiet. They didn't seem to get into any trouble. They just kept themselves to themselves."

Detectives are believed to be investigating how the girls raised money for their airfares.

They are believed to have contacted their parents to say they are safe and well but have reportedly said they have no intention of returning to the UK.

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadan Foundation, who has been in contact with the family, said: "It's the most harrowing experience for any mother and father to go through that their children are in a war zone country.

The girls' brother is thought to be fighting with ISIS

"The family had no indication they were involved in terrorism, no indication they were going to Syria.

"They were highly academic, they were highly bright teenagers who got 28 GCSEs between them.

"Obviously somewhere down the line, through the internet, they have been groomed, radicalised and brainwashed.

"The family just want them to come home."

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